Before recording a vocal take, have the vocalist sing into the microphone at full volume. Observe the Mixcraft 4 interface during the vocal audition and look out for any warning lights. If the signal is too strong, it will create distortion. This unwanted crackling sound will ruin an otherwise perfectly good take. If the "Gain" meter LED light on the Mixcraft 4 interface is flashing, adjust the "Gain" slider dial on the channel strip. This attenuates the signal and nips distortion in the bud before it can ruin your track.
Compression is an audio effect. It limits the dynamic range of an audio recording. When used on vocals, compression boosts the very quiet signals and cuts the very high signals so that parts of the vocals don't disappear under other instruments or over-dominate the rest of the mix. You can add compression as a post-production effect or you can use live, as the singer delivers her vocal take. The advantage of the latter is that the singer will hear in her headphones how the compression is altering the voice and can adjust her performance accordingly to optimize the effect.
Once your singer has delivered a solid vocal take, open a new audio track. Copy and paste the original vocal onto the new track, and drag the channel gain fader down so that the copy is quieter than the original. Click "Tools" and select "Delay." Add a very subtle delay to the second version of the vocal. The delay enhances the layered effect. By copying the original vocal, you don't need to invest time in recording an exact over-dub.
Reverb approximates the effect of an acoustically resonant environment, such as a cave or church hall. It is similar to an echo, but rather than a repeat of the original sound, reverb extends the ambiance of the sound. Click "Effects" and select "Reverb." Adjust the various parameters, such as "Reverb Time," to tweak the intensity and character of the effect. Reverb softens the beginning and end of a sound. Once added, the reverb makes the vocal recording blend in with the mix better.